Bounty (2009)

The movie is not bad, don't get me wrong. Especially for an independent low budget film. So let's start with the good things: the cast was good, with solid character work; I liked the camera with its brownish western scenes and apparently the director made a good job, too. Unfortunately the plot had too many weird moments to make the movie overall enjoyable. *Spoiler* Why would a person start a brawl with a bystander/friend and risk getting shot, only to get into the jailhouse, when he could have walked right into the very same jailhouse by simply using the door? Why would you steal a horse from your mate instead of stealing it from an enemy, when you are about to be chased by that enemy? Why would you meet at the town square with your enemy, then dissolve again to start a gun fight, instead of starting the gun fight right at the town square? Why would a Sheriff wait for several hours to start a manhunt, instead of shooting your back when you leave the town, when he had the chance? And if he indeed did wait for hours, why would it take more than a day to catch up when the Sheriff had a gang on horses and good scouts, and the fugitive had two people on one horse? The last scene was so weird I honestly could not understand. All possible explanations that come to my mind are much more difficult and dangerous and costly than simply getting a new hair cut or crossing the state line to avoid being followed or found. */Spoiler off*So all in all a nice try, but needs better screenwriters.

After reading the other comments about this film, I couldn't help but write something. I'll have to admit that I didn't notice the power lines, modern fences, and satellite dish at first. I don't watch the scenes that closely. Those who said the actors did a good job, however... what are you smoking!?! First of all, they didn't have much to work with, because the script was horrible - way too wordy. Other than that, Steve Savage and Bruce Isham (who is probably the writer/director's dad) couldn't act worth a penny. Both overacted worse than you could imagine. The only possible reasons anyone would say that the acting was good is either because Jarret LeMaster didn't overact like the others or they thought Michelle Acuna was hot. The only reason I rented this was because I had just watched another independent western, "Shadowheart," which was pretty good. Of course, it's hard to find a western as good as The Searchers, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, etc... As an avid fan of westerns, though, I am always open to a good indie, and this one definitely fails.

I ordered Bounty on DVD thru a recommendation. Overall I think it was a good movie. I love watching up and coming talent and new directors. For an independent feature, it shows great strength, spirit & a fine workmanship. It is definitely worth watching.As for what the other person remarked on; I did notice a couple snags as with many movies, but rarely and only for a brief moment. The girls plot line could have been a little better. However, as in many westerns the action was what caught my attention.It was very noticeable that a lot of attention was paid to the action, gore, horse riding and gun fighting scenes. That were very well done.Overall I would recommend Bounty to people, especially those who would love a good western.

I approached this film with a totally open mind, (there were no comments or reviews that I could find ;-). The opening scene was, to me, slightly marred by the obviously too modern barn architecture in the background but I let it go - until the obligatory bar-fight scene, when the fighters spilled out into the "street".In the background here was a neat row of about a dozen dark green, 35 foot tall Italian Cypresses, standing out in stark contrast to the tan scrub hillsides and framed beneath 6 power lines. None of these would have been in the "old west" and it would have taken 25 years or so for the Cypresses to obtain that height once they arrived. OK, I will ignore them (and ignore the composition shingle roofing on these buildings).In the next major scene, however, where the villain is abusing the damsel-in-distress, I couldn't possibly ignore the 8-foot high chain-link fence in that background; mercifully it was mostly covered in overgrowth but still unmistakable and peeking out over it's top was a modern building, sporting new-styled Spanish cement tiles and if that weren't enough - a satellite dish on it's front.From that point on, it was a matter of earning back respect and in many regards, that was accomplished. Interior scenes were much better as were the field scenes, the major offense to the optic nerve here was caused by the choice of the "town" it was filmed in (did I mention the modern milled-plywood siding?) and the subsequent lack of concise post-editing to at least try to ameliorate these errors.The actors and lead actress put on a good show. My own feeling is that the origins of the maiden's plight needed some additional clarity. There were also many "dissolve to blacks", which sort of left one waiting for a commercial occasionally. Camera work was pretty solid as was direction. Gunfights were surprisingly good. The score, however, was outstanding.Not a bad first effort.